Monte De Oro ineryW
Continued from Page 16
ture, the investors started looking at building
AGE 17
a winery facility. Over the past five years
of planning and construction, Monte De
Oro Winery has taken shape with the input
2010 / P
of all the investors and under the guidance
Y
of Zignorski. The resulting 23,000 square
foot facility is grand in scale, but is designed
with an “old world” style that is simple and
elegant. The main tasting room features
FEBRUAR
28-foot-high ceilings, a massive front win-
dow that looks out over the vineyards and
mountains, and two large portable wine bars.
The winery has more than 10,000 square
feet of outdoor patio space, complete with
a reflective water pool, along with two VIP/
Banquet rooms and a special events kitchen.
Perhaps the most unique feature for a Tem-
ecula winery is the 11,000 square foot Barrel
basement; the tasting room sits atop the Bar-
rels on an attention-grabbing glass floor that
allows visitors to see the cellar below.
As the construction on the building came to-
gether, the grapevines matured. The group
hired Tim Kramer at Leonesse Cellars as
their Winemaker, along with a consulting
winemaker from Napa Valley. As with all
Viognier and 2008 Chardonnay.
decisions, the owners weighed in on the
All of the years of planning, planting, bot-
NEIGHBORS N
wine too. “One thing we all have in com-
tling and building finally culminated this past
mon is that we are very much used to drink-
month, when the owners held the public Grand
ing good, quality wines,” says Zignorski.
Opening of Monte De Oro Winery on January
“So we have sort of our own consumer focus
9th. “It was really special for them to see this
group saying ‘What do we want from this
all come together,” says Zignorski. “Learn-
wine?’ ‘What do we want the winemaker
ing all the trials and tribulations of being in
to concentrate on next?’ And hopefully the
this romantic thing called the wine business,
guests will agree with us when they taste our
sharing a common vision, and actually achiev-
E
wines that we’ve achieved the goal of good
ing the goal of what we wanted to do is really
W
quality. Because that’s what we’ve spent the
exciting. We hope people like our building,
S
vast majority of our time on.”
but more importantly we really hope they like
P
The group’s philosophy is to be 100% es-
our wine.”
A
P
tate grown. They planted another vineyard,
Come visit Temecula’s newest winery to
E
Monte De Oro, at the winery site, with Tem-
experience how the owners’ collective vision
R
pranillo, Petite Syrah, Malbec, Mourvedre,
became reality. Monte De Oro Winery is lo-
Grenache, Cinsault, and Petite Verdot. They
cated at 35820 Rancho California Road, just
started harvesting grapes in 2004, and be-
east of Monte De Oro Road. The tasting room
gan bottling their own red wines under the
is open 10am to 5pm every day, with a fee of
Monte De Oro label with the 2006 vintages
$10 for up to six tastes. For more information,
of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet
contact Monte De Oro at (951) 491-6551.
Franc, Syrah, Zinfandel, and a proprietary
red blend called “Synergy 65” after the
Visiting Our Vineyards is a continuing series
owners. They then added a couple of white
featuring the wines and wineries of the Tem-
wines to the collection, bottling their 2007
ecula Valley.
VISITING OUR
Woo Your Loved One
in Wine Country
VINEY
Take a sunset drive through Temecula Valley's rolling vineyards to Ponte
Winery's Valentine's Dinner. You will enjoy a champagne reception with
butler passed hors d'oeuvres, a delectable four course meal, Ponte wines,
live entertainment and a portrait studio for you to capture your evening.

ARDS
Friday, February 12th, Saturday, February 13th, and Sunday, February 14th
7:00 pm, $95 per person and $86 for Wine Club Members
Tickets for the event can be purchased online at www.pontewinery.com or by calling (951) 694-9444
35053 Rancho California Rd Temecula, CA 92591 (951)694-8855 www.pontewinery.com
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